Thankstothegenerosityofmorethan450donorfunds, Acornhasgiftednearly$20Msince2013tohundredsof communityorganisationsandawardwinners.Thisyearwe havedistributedatotalof$3.2MtotheWesternBayof Plenty.
TheAcornFoundationamendedits2024fundingpriorities toreflectthecommunityneedsthatwerehighlightedin the2023VitalImpactResearch.Communityneedsalsoled Acorntodonatetocharitiesthatsupportfoodsecurity throughAcorn’sVitalImpactFund.
Acolourfullifeofunexpectedtwistsand somedarkturnshasledMtMaunganui local,NoelineCampbell,tosupportthe charitiessheherselfwassocloseto needing.
EveryMarch,Noelinecontemplatesthe charitiesshe’dliketogivetoandsays shegetsarealkickoutofreceiving thankyounotesfromthecharitiesshe’s funded.
Annualgivinghasbecomeawayfor Noelinetoassistthoselessfortunate thanherself.Whenshewasinneed peoplesteppedforwardtohelpher,and nowshehonoursthosepeoplewithher ownhelpinghands.Noelinehasalso madeprovisiontoleaveabequestto theAcornFoundation.Shewouldliketo continuesupportingthecharitiesshe loves,longaftershe’sgone.
Givingbackhasapoignantmeaningfor Noeline.
ShelivedintheUKandpainfullyrecalls theafternoonshehadtoleaveher abusiveex-husbandandtaketheirbaby daughterwithher.
“Ileftwhilehewasatwork.Iwasinsuch apanicthatIleftmywalletbehindand foundoutwhenIstoppedforpetrolin theevening,onehundredmilesaway.A couplewalkingdownthestreetasked meifanythingwaswrongandIburst intotears.Theywerewardensofanold people’shomeandgaveustheguest roomforthenight.Theygavemea phonecalltomyoldschoolfriendfrom Katikati,wholivedanotherhundred milesaway,andsheofferedmearoom atherplace. Inthemorningmysaviours putpetrolinmycarandgavemetwenty pounds.
“Throughthatexperience,Ibecame highlyawareofthevalueofnotonly compassion,butalsoofWomen’s
Refuge,althoughIdidn’tendup needingit.”
“Eversince,inwhatevercountryIhave lived–UK,Bahrain,NewZealand–I havesupportedWomen’sRefuge.Ihave nowstartedsupportingother organisationsthatcanhelpwomenand familiesbeforetheirsituationsrequire theinvolvementofWomen'sRefuge.”
“Iaminterestedinsupportingcharities thattrytobreakthecycleofviolence andthecycleofpovertyforwomen.The Acornteamprovidedmewithsome greatrecommendationsofcharitiesto support.”
“Idon’tjustsupportlocalcauses,”says Noeline.“I’mreallyinterestedinthe workofHamlinFistulainEthiopia,as well.SoI'vestartedalivinggivingfund withHamlinFistula,butI'vestillgota percentageofmyestategiftedto Acorn.”
Theuseofe-cigaretteshasbecome commoninrecentyears,especially amongNewZealandteenagers. Therateofteenvapinghasrapidly increasedtothepointwheresomerefer toitasapublichealthcrisisandan epidemic.
Originallyintendedasanalternativeto smoking,vapingcompaniesareactively targetingyouthwithenticingmarketing tactics.
Onein10youngpeopleaged14to15 vapedaily,withthatnumberrisingto1 in5amongtheMāoripopulation, accordingtodatafromtheNewZealand HealthSurveyreleasedinDecember 2023.
AsthmaandRespiratoryFoundationNZ ChiefExecutiveMsLetitiaHardingsays doublingofdailyvapingamong teenagersisnothingshortofapublic healthcrisisthatdemandsurgent attention.
“Iamappalledanddeeplyconcerned withthesefigures.
“Whatwearewitnessingisanepidemic thatneedsimmediateattentionto addresssuchalarmingstatistics.”
Theproliferationofvapestores, particularlyinlowersocio-economic anddisadvantagedareas,contributesto theaccessibilityandpopularityof vaping.
Therearecurrentlymorethan1,500 SpecialistVapingRetailersacross Aotearoa.Incomparison,thereareonly 1,200petrolstationsintheentire country.
Theaddictivenatureofnicotinecontainingvapes,coupledwithenticing marketing,flavours,andpackaging, posesasignificantchallengeforschools asstudentsbecomeaddictedtothese products.
InMay2022,TeHāOraAsthmaand RespiratoryFoundationNZlauncheda programmetodelivervapingeducation workshopstoschoolsacrossthe country-thefirstofitskind.
Theprogrammearmsyoungpeople withinformationandtoolstomake informedchoicesaboutvaping, includingunderstandingtheharms.
TheAcornFoundationwillbefundingTe HāOra’sabilitytooffer24workshopsto schoolsaroundtheBayofPlentyregion. Thisinitiativewillofferthousandsof youngpeoplethetoolstheyneedto breakhabitsoravoidcreatingthem.
Nicotineaddictioncanhaveimmense consequencesonbothhealthand financialcapability.
Weknowthatnicotineisoneofthemost addictivesubstancesontheplanet. Thebestwaytodealwithaddictionisto preventpeoplefromfallingintoitas earlyaspossible,whichmakesthis interventioncriticalforthelong-term healthofourregion–bothphysicaland financial.
TeHāOraAsthma&Respiratory FoundationNZGrantsandFundraising ExecutiveMsPamFrancombesaysshe
NoelinerecentlyattendedTauranga’s LiveforMore’sgraduation(oneofthe charitiesshesupports),shefoundit gratifyingandheartwarmingtoseethe resultsofhergiving.
“Itmakesmefeelhappy.”
Noeline’sgivinghascreatedaninvested communityinterest.Sheencourages thosewhohaven’tupdatedtheirwillsto considerleavinggiftstosupportthe areastheycaremostabout.
“Ifyousetupanendowmentfundwith Acorn,itwillbethereafteryouhave died.Incomewillbegeneratedtofund thosecharitiesyousupportedwhenyou werealive.Yougettoexperiencethejoy ofgivingduringyourlifetime,andyou knowthatitwillcontinuetohavean increasingeffectlongafteryouhave gone. Isn’tthatwonderful?”
Noeline’sheartfeltsmilesaysitall.
wasthrilledtolearntheFoundationwas chosentoreceivefundingthisyear.
“Thisfundingwillmakeasignificant impactonthelivesofyoungpeoplein theWesternBayofPlenty,andweare excitedtosharethepositiveoutcomes thatyoursupportwillenable.”
Acornwaspleasedtobeabletoinvestin thehealthoftheBayofPlenty’s rangatahi.AcornFoundation’sLegacy GivingManagerCampbellHigginssaid, “Itisarelieftoknowthatvaping educationisavailableforourlocal schoolstudents,thankstoTeHāOra. ThelateRoy&MaryMcGowanwould havebeenthrilledthattheirfundwill supportthisprogramme.”
Createalegacywithafreeonlinewill
Ifyou’dliketoincludeagifttotheAcorn Foundationinyourwill,youcannowdo soforfree,anditonlytakesafew minutes.Ournetworkhasrecently teamedupwithGatheredHereto provideasupereasyoptionforthose whohaveasimpleestatestructure.
Byincludingagiftinyourwill,youcan createalastinglegacywithinour communitynow,andforever.
Ifyouhaveamorecomplexestate,we recommendseeingyoursolicitor.Acorn’s Partnerlawfirmshaveyearsof experiencedevelopingwillsthatinclude agifttoAcorn.
Visitourwebsitetolearnmoreandfinda listofourpartnerlawfirms.
www.acornfoundation.org.
nz/give/give-fortomorrow/wills-month2024
TheAcornteamworkscloselywithdonorstoidentifyareasofsupportthatare closesttotheirhearts.Sometimesthesedecisionsinvolvechoosingspecific charitiesortaggeddistributions.Otherdonorsidentifyfieldsofinterest(i.e.,the environment,animalwelfare,youthdevelopment,etc.)ordecidetoleavetheir fundsunrestricted.
About60%ofoursupportistaggedtocharitableorganisationsspecifically namedbyourdonors.Theremaining40%isfieldofinterest(soft-tagged)or unrestricted.
AtAcorn,weencourageourdonorstoidentifyafieldofinterestorleavetheir giftunrestricted.Thisallowsawidergroupofcharitiesandthosewiththe greatestneedtoreceivesupport.
WehaveanannualfundingroundinMaywherecharitiescanapplyforthat40% offunding.Wegetaround100applicationseachfundinground,whoareall deservingofsupport.Acorn’sVolunteerDistributionsCommitteereviewthe applicationsandwillmakeinformeddecisionstoallocatethefunds.
Acorndoesitsduediligencebyvisitingcharitieswhohavenotappliedtous beforeandbyworkingcloselywithlocalfunders.Oncedistributionsare confirmed,AcornwillpaytherecipientcharitiesinearlySeptember.
InFebruary/March,wehaveroundtablereportingsessionstocheckinwith charitieswhoreceivedfundingtotalkabouthowtheyusedthismoney.Itcan alsoprovideanopportunityforcharitiestofindcommonchallengesandtackle themtogether.
“We are so appreciative of the unrestricted and soft-tagged funds we receive, as it allows Acorn to support the many dozens of local organisations that provide valuable services to our community that most locals never hear about. We are always available to talk through the different ways to give with Acorn and provide recommendations on who you might like to support.”
- LoriLuke,AcornFoundation CEO
InternationallyacclaimedwriterEmilyPerkinsMNZMhaswonthe$65,000JannMedlicottAcornPrizeforFictionforhernovel Lionessatthe2024OckhamNewZealandBookAwards.Emilyisadaptingheraward-winningnovelLionessforaTVseries optionedbythemakersofNinePerfectStrangersandBigLittleLies,andthestarofTheMentalist.
AnewMemorialGroveatGordonCarmichaelReservewas openedonWednesday5Juneinpartnershipwith TaurangaCityCouncil.Thedaywaschosenbecauseit celebratesNewZealandArborDayandWorldEnvironment Day.
Thisprestigiousprizewasawardedonstagein JannMedlicott’smemorybyAcornFoundation CEO,LoriLuke.Shewasjoinedattheawardsby LegacyGivingManager,CampbellHiggins,Acorn FoundationChairMichelleMalcolmandformer AcornTrusteeBrianCloughley.
TheFictioncategory’sconvenorofjudges,Juliet Blyth,saidthatLionessisasearingandurgent novelcracklingwithtensionandintelligence. “Disturbing,deep,smartandfunnyashell,Lioness isunforgettable.”
Thegrovehasbeenestablishedtohonourthelegacyof donorstothefoundationwhohavepassedon.Sixyoung nativesaplings:threeKahikateaandthreePūriritrees wereplantedtohonourKeithandRonaHunt,Dr.Jann Medlicott,SybilAnderson,andJillButler–whosetreewas plantedbyherwidower,George–aswellastwo anonymousdonors.
“Thetreeswillstandasaphysicalrepresentationofthe legacyofAcorn’sdonors.Justastheirgiftstothe communitywillgrowandflourish,sotoowillthetrees honouringthesegenerousdonors,"saysLoriLuke,Acorn FoundationCEO.
Thenewgroveaddstotheexistingmemorialgrove, plantedatCambridgeParkfeaturing64Oaktrees.
OnThursday,4July,22studentsfromschoolsacross theWesternBayofPlentyreceivedtheirgraduation certificatesforcompletingthe2024AcornFoundation DaleCarnegieYouthProgramme.Theestateofthelate MaryandRoyMcGowanhasfundedthesescholarships forthelastfifteenyears.
Thisthree-daycourseteachestheDaleCarnegiefive driversofsuccess:buildinggreaterself-confidence; strengtheningpeopleskills;enhancing communicationskills;developingleadershipskills; andreducingstressandworry.
AvaDickison,TaurangaGirls’Collegestudent,said, “welearntalotofveryvaluablepracticalskillsthat applynotjusttoyourprofessionallife,butalsoinyour sociallifewithnewpeopleyoumeet.”
Congratulationstothefollowingscholarshipwinners:
ACGTauranga:MeiLeeandSimranjotKaur
AquinasCollege: CaitlinCooper,HarryFearnand RyanWilliams
BethlehemCollege:AmeliaNewsom
KatikatiCollege:JoshMcGintyandMatijaFord
AcorndonorsLOVEOutwardBound!Manyofthem haveexperiencedthelife-changingimpactofan OutwardBoundTrustofNewZealandcourse personally.
Wesendahugethankyoutothedonorswhomake Acorn’ssupportforOutwardBoundpossible:theBob GrangerScholarshipFund,theHaineFamilyFund,the N&MBicknellFund,theM&GRead-SmithFund,the G&COlsenFund,theJ&PLaingFundandtwo anonymousdonorfunds.
Onbehalfofthesedonors,wecelebratedthe14Year 12studentsfromsixschoolsintheWesternBayof Plenty,plusoneschoolinWhakatāne,whocompleted theannualTangaroaWatchinMay.
Congratulationstothe2024scholarshipwinners: KatikatiCollege:WilliamSuttonandElla Donoghue
ŌtūmoetaiCollege:EssenceSoperandMikaera Puru-Wilson
TaurangaBoys’College:MangokaitipuaJackson andTeNgakauAugustMarch
Mt.MaunganuiCollege:AshleeCallanderandMary Bragg
OtumoetaiCollege:JackPageandRebeccaParkes
PapamoaCollege:LaylahTheronandLukeBlow
TaurangaBoys’College:MichaelvanLieshoutand SebHeath
TaurangaGirls’College:AvaDickisonandMaddy Whitburn
TePukeHighSchool:AnaheraMarkandJess McGowan
FriendsofAcorn:2024Distributionsmorningteas
TaurangaGirls’College:TreliseChoteandAshka KerrLaing
WhakatāneHighSchool:LucasJensenandAlex Clarke
PāpāmoaCollege:AvaBuchananandArjon Marsden
TePukeHighSchool:RileyHortonandMerenia Newton
Wearedelightedtoinviteyoutoour2024Katikati&TePukeDistribution MorningTeas!TheseeventsareanopportunityforAcorndonors,friendsand passionatesupporterstohearhowthisyear’sAcornfundingwasdirected.We willhavearangeofspeakersincludingrecentscholarshipwinners,aswellas someofthewonderfullocalrecipientorganisationsworkinginour community.
Pleasegiveusacall075799839oremailfrances@acornfoundation.org.nztoRSVP.
KATIKATI
Tuesday24September,10am-11:30am JunctionTheatre,TheArtsJunction, 36MainRoad
TEPUKE
Thursday26September,10am-11:30am
TheOrchardChurch,20Macloughlin Drive,TePuke
Page/AcornScholarship2024winners fromthreeengineeringfirms
ThePage/Acornawardceremony,heldonTuesday May28th,honouredrecipientsfrom2023and2024, givingtheopportunityfortheawardwinnersandtheir familiestocelebratetheirachievementsandto connectwithotherlocalapprentices.
ThePage/AcornEngineeringScholarshipwasfunded byBobandJoyPageandisawardedannuallyto second-yearapprenticesatlocalengineeringfirms, recipientsandtheirrespectiveworkplacesreceive fundingfortwoyearstoassistwithexpensesand equipment.
NarayanSinghwonaPage/AcornScholarshipin2010. HecompletedhisapprenticeshipatContract MechanicalService,whereheisnowtheGeneral Manager.
“WhenIgotthescholarshipasayoungfellow,the meaningofitdidn’tstrikemeasmuchasitdoesnow,” saysNarayan.“Whenyougetit,youdon’tunderstand thevalueofwealthasmuchuntilyouage.Looking backasanemployerandseeingthevisionofthe scholarshipandthelegacybehindit,Icanreallysee justhowimpactfulitwasforme.”
Congratulationstothefollowingwinners: JoshuaChugg,AlecColeman,MadasonLeagaand MackenzieMorganfromPageMacraeEngineering OwenPoppe,PacificSawmillEngineeringLimited JessicaWinslade,ContractMechanicalServices.
Joyce was born in Lochem in the Netherlands. She graduated with a Diploma in Nursing and Midwifery at the age of 23 and married Izek Wessel (also Dutch) in Hamilton in 1953. They moved to No 3 Road in Te Puke where they owned an orchard.
With her nursing background, Joyce was very supportive of organisations in the Health sector. She joined Te Puke St John as an ambulance attendant and was the committee treasurer for many years.
When St John was looking for funds for their new building on No 3 Road, Joyce made a very substantial donation to help make the facility debt-free when it opened late in 2013. She also donated a new ambulance to St John Te Puke and made provision for that to be replaced with another new one when it was required.
St John was not the only beneficiary of Joyce’s generosity. She supported over 20 charities including the Te Puke Volunteer Fire Brigade, Philips Search & Rescue, Blind Foundation, Te Puke Plunket and the Neurological Society.
Her substantial financial contributions to the numerous organisations were always done anonymously, until her passing in 2023. Joyce was a very quiet woman with a very generous heart who helped so many organisations.
Jennifer was born in Nelson in 1929, where both parents were doctors. Her father managed psychiatric hospitals, and her mother was a medical officer for local schools.
Edmund James (Ted) Wadsworth was born in 1931 in Ireland, before migrating to New Zealand to work as a teacher. He moved around New Zealand, before finishing his career as a lecturer at Waikato University and retiring to Tauranga.
Ted had a passion for education, and for allowing young people to achieve their full potential – his drive to educate himself was such that after he retired from lecturing, he continued to work on his Doctorate in Philosophy into his 80s.
Ted set up a scholarship via the Acorn Foundation in 2013 and supported two students to undertake research in the youth leadership field.
Jennifer trained in Pharmacy, but she also spent 10 years working for the NZ Women's Navy Service (WRNZNS), including working in the naval intelligence in Melbourne.
Following her father's death, she moved back to live in Tauranga. Jennifer continued her pharmacy career, working at the Tauranga Hospital pharmacy and then managing the stores for St John.
Jennifer's fund supports the New Zealand Bible Society. Jennifer believed the Bible provides spiritual nourishment, particularly for people in countries where life can be a real struggle.
In the 60s, Ted was living in Blenheim and was involved in the very first years of Outward Bound. In 2017, Ted was thrilled to learn that he could support students in attending the Outward Bound Tangaroa Watch Programme through Acorn. He wanted to support the development of young people through team-led development, so Outward Bound fit that perfectly.
Ted’s fund will continue to support students to attend the Outward Bound Tangaroa Watch Programme.
Robert (Bob) Hudson was born in England, where he met his wife and life partner Norma, who he would spend the next 64 years of his life in companionship with.
The couple were active in medical research and travelled the world working on this – culminating in spending 12 years in Hong Kong
When it came time to retire, Bob and Norma moved to New Zealand to live, where they first spent several years growing flowers in Whakamarama. Eventually, they decided to settle in Tauranga, where they made one of the most lasting contributions of their lives.
Bob and Norma had a lifelong passion for the Arts and set up the FAME Trust in 2007. The FAME Trust has since supported hundreds of students on their creative journeys.
Bob and Norma never had any children, but their legacy is secure in the impacts they have had on the performing arts industry of New Zealand.
Buildingathrivingcommunity,wherepeoplehavedignity,opportunityandasenseofwell-being.
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